The following athletes will represent the maple leaf at the quadrennial equestrian event later this summer (in alphabetical order):
- Naima Moreira Laliberté – Statesman
- Ryan Torkkeli – Sternenwanderer
The Canadian Dressage athletes will be supported by Chef d’Équipe Christine Peters, Veterinarian Dr. Alan Manning and Team Leader James Hood.
“Naima and Ryan have been competing and performing strongly throughout the season and will represent Canada well at the ECCO FEI Worlds in Herning, both athletes although rookies to the world championships have the composure and training to perform to their best” said Hood the Director, High Performance at Equestrian Canada “They join a great group of riders who will all wear the maple leaf proudly from the disciplines of Para-Dressage, Jumping and Vaulting.”
Moreira Laliberté and Torkkeli will be contesting their first FEI World Championships in their equestrian careers. Moreira Laliberté and Statesman represented the maple leaf at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, where Canada won gold in the Team Dressage event.
Canada has had quite extensive history at the FEI World Championships with their best result coming in 2010 Lexington, USA with the team of Ashley Holzer, Belinda Trussell, Victoria Winter and Bonny Bonnello placing seventh in the team event and Holzer placing in eighth in the Freestyle and 11th in the Individual Grand Prix Special.
“I’m very honoured to be in a position to support our athletes achieve their goals on the world stage” said Peters. “Naima and Ryan will be competing in their first World Championships, but I know they will rise to the occasion and deliver their best performances in Denmark this summer.”
For more information on the FEI World Championships – Herning, please click here.
About Equestrian Canada
Equestrian Canada (EC) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 11 provincial/territorial sport organization partners and 10+ national equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada. EC thanks the Government of Canada for their financial support.
For media inquiries contact EC Director, Marketing & Communications, Melanie McLearon, mmclearon@equestrian.ca.
Other team discipline announcements: